I've just seen the weirdest turbo-prop land at Ottawa airport. It had a double row of wires leading from the front directly to the wing, then to the tail and round the other side in the same way. It looked pretty much like a square of wires framing the plane with little bits dangling off at regular intervals.
No it wasn't a UFO and no I'm not making it up! Any ideas?
2006-11-04 02:46:56 · 12 answers · asked by Val G 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
It sounds like a military plane for naval reconnaissance. The wires you described are likely to be a MAD device. MAD stands for Magnetic Anomaly Detector - to describe it in a simple way, it's a kind of huge metal detector.
Considering your sighting took place in Canada, I suggest the plane you saw was Lockheed CP-140 Aurora, the Canadian version of the P-3 Orion.
Take a look at this: http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0240566&size=L
2006-11-04 03:36:10 · answer #1 · answered by ashtray 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pity you didn't get any photos to post online.
There are many weird craft taking to the air, some of them are test beds for new equipment or structural ideas.
Some are additions to standard planes which have forgiving flying characteristics so they can easily control and understand better the changes that have been made.
In some countries it is incredibly easy to get in the air with just about anything, here in the UK (thank god) it is extremely difficult.
If you see if again try and get a bit more info or easier still, just phone the airport as they have to keep records of every single thing that touches down.
2006-11-04 10:52:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Without seeing the plane I would guess it is a military communications plane they rig wires all over the fuselage to enlarge the antenna. This also could be a command plane for aerial fire fighters who need such planes in wilderness areas these planes serve as mobile command post. The US army uses such planes in the form of beechcraft twin. Another is the EC-130 series. You will even see wires rigged on helos for command purposes.
2006-11-04 12:01:11 · answer #3 · answered by brian L 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The wires dangling may be for static electricty disperal. Most aircraft will have a stiff wire followed by a thin wire. It is there to prevent static electricty building up and possbily damage senstive electronic componets. Some aircraft will have metal strips on the fuselage to deflect lightning charges.
2006-11-04 11:40:42 · answer #4 · answered by markie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not a right answer amongst them
What you probably saw was this :
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0263392/M/
It is a geological research aircraft that carries out electromagnetic surveys to aid in mineral exploration. It is owned by Geoterrex Dighem whose Dash 7 is based in Ottawa.
Here is the company's web address for more info
http://www.dighem.com/services/electromag/megatem/index.html
They also operate a CASA 212, but not sure where they are based but it is possible it could have been it you saw
Hope this helps
2006-11-04 18:26:52 · answer #5 · answered by PolarCeltic 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like something for atmospheric testing,could be bouncing signals for a terrain scan (sonar/sonic wave),could also be looking for radio waves from a specific location.The bits dangling off it may be a way to reduce the static charge to the atmosphere or ground so as not to harm anyone on the aircraft in question .I is possible it could be testing new equipment like others have said .
2006-11-04 10:59:06 · answer #6 · answered by dinosaur 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is not as weird as it may seem. Depending on the manufacturer (And this one sounds almost experimental) they will try and save on building costs by securing the wing at the fuselage with “hinge bolts” then make sure they wont fold forward or backwards by running “flying wires” from the front and back of the fuselage. If you look at the aircraft that were built back when the Wright Flyer was, you will see many variations of this especially when anyone was trying to build a mono plane.
2006-11-04 11:03:17 · answer #7 · answered by george m 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I believe what U saw was a CASA 212 with special electromagnetical testing devices. Here is a link to the aircraft I believe U are refering to. Let me know if that's it.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1131561/M/
2006-11-05 00:34:44 · answer #8 · answered by Timothy B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like a P-3 Orion. I am in the US navy and work on the aircraft. if you want I will send you a picture just E-mail me. love2flynavy@yahoo.com hope that helps
2006-11-04 20:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by eric n 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Was it a "military" job I wonder.
Certainly not a commercial arrangement.
Sounds like a communications array, for listening into comms.
Big flying aerial.
Bob.
2006-11-05 05:52:06 · answer #10 · answered by Bob the Boat 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋